With the fourth annual Dinosaur Egg Hunt Saturday approaching faster than a rampaging T-Rex, families should sign up now, said Fernbank Museum of Natural History spokeswoman Brandi Berry.

“Last year we had 3,000 visitors and we expect about the same this year,” she said. “We have limited space in the hunts, so we require advanced registration. If you haven’t registered yet, don’t wait or you may miss out.”

Just as reservations will soon become extinct, trophies will be plucked from the lawn like raptor prey.

“After the start of the hunt, it’s incredible to see thousands of eggs disappear into little hands, bags and baskets in a matter of minutes,” Berry said.

Last year, the baskets included that of DeKalb resident Stella Barnhart, 5.

“It’s fun,” her mother Elsie Barnhart said. “The eggs sit right on top of the grass and they are easy to find.”

The thrill of the hunt is only part of the fun, Stella said.

“They play music and you can have a dance party when you are not hunting for eggs,” she said.

Berry said frequent museum visitors like Stella inspired the event.

“Having the added interest of hunting for ‘dinosaur eggs’ adds a great atmosphere and really interests children,” she said. “It also ties into what you learn during visits to the museum. Dinosaurs really did lay eggs. They just weren’t pink, purple, blue, green and yellow.”

Berry said the event has several goals.

“Everyone has a great time,” Berry said. “This is a great way to get first-time visitors to the museum and also to encourage visitors to become members.”

Even after four years, it never gets old.

“My favorite part of the event is watching the children get excited for the start, followed by seeing them have so much fun finding eggs and carrying around their baskets full of swag,” Berry said.

Families are making it a tradition, complete with handicrafts and costumes.

“A lot of kids will dress up for the egg hunt with either spring clothes or dinosaur apparel as well as carry baskets that reflect their personalities,” Berry said.

In a nod to Easter traditions, museum mascot Giggy A. Dinosaur will sport bunny ears, even if they are scientifically incorrect.

“Dinosaurs are actually related to birds, but not bunnies,” Berry said.

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